← All states
CA · State profile
California landlord rules
1 of 10 values below carries a source-confirmed statute citation. The rest are conservative reference values from Aptoria's compliance data and are labeled unverified.
AB 1482 caps annual increases at lesser of CPI+5% or 10% on units >15yrs old; many cities have stricter local control (SF, LA, Oakland, Berkeley).
Deposits, fees, and notices
Security deposit limit
Unverified reference value
1× monthly rent
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Deposit return deadline
Source-confirmed 2026-07
21 calendar days after the tenant vacates to return the deposit or deliver an itemized statement of deductions (with receipts for deductions over $125). Bad-faith withholding exposes the landlord to up to twice the deposit in damages. Effective Jan 1, 2026, landlords must offer electronic return where rent or the deposit was paid electronically.
Cal. Civ. Code § 1950.5. California Legislative Information (official) ↗
Reference value on file: 21 days after move-out
Late fees
Unverified reference value
No statewide cap (reasonableness standard)
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Rent-increase notice
Unverified reference value
30 days
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Month-to-month termination notice
Unverified reference value
30 days
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Pay-or-quit notice
Unverified reference value
3 days
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Non-emergency entry notice
Unverified reference value
24 hours
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Application fee limit
Unverified reference value
$65
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Statewide rent regulation
Unverified reference value
Statewide annual increase cap (10% ceiling on file)
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Separate pet deposit
Unverified reference value
Not permitted as a separate charge
No verified statutory citation on file. Confirm with the current statute.
Payments, fair housing, and licensing
Card surcharges on rent
Allowed only with inclusive total pricing
CA SB 478 "Honest Pricing Law" (eff. July 1, 2024) — total price must be inclusive.
Returned-payment (NSF) fee
No statewide statutory cap on file
Source-of-income protection
Protected statewide
Local ordinances can extend protection beyond the statewide rule.
Property-management licensing
License generally required to manage for others
CA DRE broker license required.
California next to its neighbors
Own units on both sides of a state line? These are the same reference values for every bordering jurisdiction. Open a state to see its citations.
| Rule | California | Arizona | Nevada | Oregon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Security deposit limit | 1× monthly rent | 1.5× monthly rent | 3× monthly rent | No statewide cap |
| Deposit return deadline | 21 days after move-out | 14 days after move-out | 30 days after move-out | 31 days after move-out |
| Late fees | No statewide cap (reasonableness standard) | No statewide cap (reasonableness standard) | Capped at 5% of monthly rent | No statewide cap (reasonableness standard); 4 days grace |
| Rent-increase notice | 30 days | 30 days | 60 days | 90 days |
| Non-emergency entry notice | 24 hours | 48 hours | 24 hours | 24 hours |
| Pay-or-quit notice | 3 days | 5 days | 7 days | 10 days |
| Source-of-income protection | Protected statewide | No statewide protection on file | No statewide protection on file | Protected statewide |
| Card surcharges on rent | Allowed only with inclusive total pricing | Allowed within card-network limits | Allowed within card-network limits | Allowed within card-network limits |
Lease disclosures on file
• Lead-based paint hazards (pre-1978 housing) — EPA Pamphlet "Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home"
• Megan's Law (sex offender registry)
• Mold (Civil Code §1940.7)
• Bedbug history (Civil Code §1954.603)
• Demolition notice if applicable
• Flood hazard zone (AB 1747)
• AB 1482 just-cause + rent cap (covered units)
Run the numbers
Security deposit calculator
Late fee calculator
Rent increase calculator
Move-in / move-out inspection checklist
Educational information only, not legal advice. Laws, local ordinances, court interpretations, and the facts of a tenancy can change the result. Verify the current binding text and obtain advice from a qualified local professional before acting.